Doorstop



July 6, 1954 A. w. LA PADULA DOORSTOP Filed March 29, 1952 mmvron ALPREDW. LA PADULA Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE DOORSTOP Alfred W. La Padula, Bronx, N. Y.

Application March 29, 1952, Serial No. 279,323

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved door stop and for door check.

Door stops are known which comprise a rubber tipped arm securable to a wall to prevent a door from contacting the wall, or securable to the door to contact a predetermined area of the wall and thus prevent the door from contacting other areas of the wall. These stops are extremely effective for the purpose aforesaid but they are objectionable in that by projecting horizontally from, a wall or door they constitute a safety hazard.

Door checks are known which comprise a pivoted or spring urged member secured to a door which is biased to closed position, and movable into engagement with the floor to hold the door in a desired open position. Here again, the projection of the member from the door constitutes a safety hazard.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel door stop and/or door check which overcomes the safety limitations of known door stops and door checks.

Another object of the invention is to construct the novel door stop and/or door check in such manner that the same is capable of being constructed at a reasonable cost.

A modified form of the invention has for its object the provision of a resilient door stop embodying the advantageous features of the above discussed door stop and/or door check, and adapted to stop the movement of a door in a smooth rather than an abrupt manner.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the door stop and/or door check of the invention in the role of a door stop only.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the means of the invention in the.role of a combined door stop and door check.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the door stop and/ or door check of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the base of the means of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating movements of the means of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a portion of the means shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown to be secured to the base board I2 of wall II a door stop constructed in accordance with this invention. Referring to Figs. 3 and i said door stop comprises a base plate l3 which'may be circular in form and which has therein a plurality of holes l4 through which screws H5 or the like can be threaded into base board l2 to secure the plate to the latter. Centrally of plate [3 there is provided a hole I 6 having a counter-sunk portion I? on the side of the plate which abuts the base board 92. Associated with base plate [3 is a post l8 which preferably is taperingly circular in cross section with the broadest end thereof abutting the base plate.

Post I 8 is provided with a longitudinal bore 20 which is narrowed adjacent base late [3 to form an annular shoulder 2|. Mounted in bore 28 and engaging shoulder 2| is a compression spring 22 which embraces a chain 23 or the like that extends through the narrow portion of bore 28, and the hole IS in base plate I3 into the countersunk portion ll of said hole. The link of chain 23 located in the said counter bore ll has a pin 24 passed through it to secure the chain to the base plate. The link at the opposite end of the chain also has a pin 25 passed through it and engaging a washer 26 which abuts the end of spring 22. It is to be mentioned that chain 23 and pins 24 and 25 form a flexible connector between base plate 53 and post l8 and can be replaced by any other flexible connector such, for example as a cable with end ieces to serve the same purpose as pins 24 and 25.

,Post I8 is tipped by a rubber cap 21 having a short neck force fitted into the end of bore 20. Cap 2! is utilized in the usual manner to soften the blow of a moving door against the stop.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 spring 22 normally maintains post [8 in a horizontal position at right angles to base board l2 so that the door comes into contact with cap 27 and is stopped thereby, wall H and base board l2 not being contacted by the door. This, of course, is the usual function of any door stop. However, referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, post l8 does not constitute a safety hazard in the manner of prior door stops, which by projecting from a wall or door form an obstacle over which persons trip, or on which persons snag their legs.

When a foot or leg comes into contact with post is the same bends aside as shown in dotdash lines. This bending or pivoting movement is permitted by the flexible connection between the post and base plate l3, that is chain 23 and pins 24 and 25. As soon as the pressure of the foot or leg on post it is relieved, the same snaps back to its normal position under the influence of spring 22 which became compressed as the post bent aside and the center of the post moved away from hole It in plate [3.

It is believed evident therefore that the door stop of the invention eliminates the safety hazard associated with prior door stops.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the means of the invention is shown as utilized for a combined door stop and door check. Here the base plate 13 is secured to a door 30 of the type which is biased" closed and opens in either direction, which is to be prevented from hitting a wall as it swings in one direction and which it is desired to check in some open position after it has swung. in. the opposite direction. The action of the device as a door stop is exactly the same as described above except that cap 27 engages the Wall at a predetermined spot. It is not thought to be necessary to redescribe the action of the device as a door stop.

The action of the device as a door check isillustrated in Figs. 2' and 5. For this purpose base plate 13 is secured to door 33 at a position so located that as post 18 is bent downward the cap 2! comes into contact with the floor 3| a few degrees before the longitudinal center line of the post assumes the vertical.

In this manner the post must be forced past the vertical to the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the tapering surface of the post lies flat against the base plate l3. Thereafter the means biasing the door to closed position maintain the post in its set position and the post checks the door in the desired open condition.

It is to be mentioned that the forcing of post I 8 past vertical position as described above is made possible by the fact that the post does not have a fixed pivot but rather pivots slidingly on base plate I3.

It is also to be mentioned that inasmuch as post i8 is moved past the vertical, the same can be used as a combined door stop and door check with doors that open in one direction only and are biased closed, provided the forces exerted by the biasing means and by spring 22 are not sufiicient, in combination, to force the post back past vertical position.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 there is disclosed a modification of the device described above whereby the latter is adapted for use as a resilient door stop. In many respects the modified device is identical with that described above. For example, that portion of the described device to the left of line :r-x of Fig. 3 remains unchanged. Therefore it is not necessary to redescribe or reillustrate much of the device, those parts shown however are given the same reference numerals as above with a prime added. The modifications consist in shortening post 18 of Fig. 3 at line a'.r and securing a right angled head piece 32 atop the shortened post. Line zit--11: is also shown in Fig. 6 to facilitate an understanding of the drawing.

Head piece 32 preferably is formed of the same material as post l8 and extends from the narrow end of the latter, laterally beyond the wider end thereof. That portion of the head piece which abuts the end of post 18' is provided with an extension 33 which is force fitted into bore 28 to secure the post and the head piece together. The other end of head piece 32 is pro vided with a well 34 to receive the neck of a resilient cap 27' the same as described above.

The resilient door stop is secured to the floor with cap 2'! in position to be engaged by a door as the same is swung open. When the door does strike the cap 21', post I8 is bent back against thepressure of spring 22 and the door is brought to a smooth jarless stop.

The modified form of the invention is particularly well adapted for use with doors embodying a large area of glass or other doors which should not be jarred unnecessarily.

It is to be noted that the safety feature of the invention is carried over to the resilient door stop, that is, if a shoe comes into contact with post [8' the same bends aside. This device may be used on any type of door, including the swinging type, at either side thereof.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A resilientdoor stop comprising a base plate for securing the device to the floor in the path of a door said base plate including an aperture, a vertical post butt sealed against said plate and having a longitudinal bore therein, an annular shoulder in said bore adjacent said plate, a compression spring mounted in said bore and bearing against said shoulder, a flexible connector extending through said aperture and secured to said plate, extending through said spring and bearing against the end of said spring further from said plate, a head piece secured at the free end of the post and extending laterallytherefrom in a direction to receive the door, and a resilient cap at the end of said head piece for contact by the door.

2. The connector of claim 1 including an eye member, and said securing means comprising a pin extending through said eye and larger than said aperture diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

